Walsall

Walsall's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, health and work life.

The population reached nearly 270,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Walsall increased by 6.2%, from about 253,000 to 269,000.

The addition of just under 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Walsall was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in rate of unemployment

This area saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 15 (6.8%) people aged 16 to 74 in Walsall said they were unemployed, compared with 4.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 51% to 49%.

The largest increase occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 4.5% to 7.3%) followed by Wolverhampton (from 5.3% to 7.9%).

The rate of unemployment in Walsall increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Walsall

The number of people in Walsall that described themselves as Sikh increased from about 7,700 in 2001 to just under 12,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 3.0% to 4.3% of the local population.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from this religious group fell from 2.0% to 2.4%, while across England the percentage went from 0.7% to 0.8%.

The number of people in Walsall that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 180,000 in 2001 to just under 160,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 59%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 25,000 to about 54,000 (from 10% to 20%).

Just over 22,000 people (5.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 14,000 in 2001 (8.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Sikh in Walsall increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Walsall by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Walsall that rented privately increased from 4.9% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall households that owner their home decreased from 64% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Walsall increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Walsall residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Walsall decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Walsall, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Walsall working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 8.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Walsall decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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